Secure web gateway vendors can be helpful for your business, especially in the long run. Why is this so? And how can they help?
Secure Web Gateway Vendors
Secure web gateway (SWG) vendors refer to web application firewalls (WAFs). They are used to protect web applications and servers. These SWGs can be considered as safety nets for web applications. And they usually serve as the mainline of defense for the backend server of your business.
SWG vendors are not free but they do help you get the job done. The good thing about them is that they have security experts who will help you make the most out of your SWG. This is to ensure that your website is secure.
If you have lots of time and resources, then deploying a secure web gateway for your business would not be a problem. But if that is not the case, then you might just want to consider investing in long-term services from a vendor.
What is a Web Application Firewall?
A web application firewall (WAF) is a software or hardware appliance that is installed at the perimeter of your network. And one that monitors all incoming and outgoing traffic. It protects your website or any computer application that runs on the internet. Such as e-commerce sites, data storage sites, etc.
WAFs are different from traditional firewalls. Because they are specifically designed to offer security for websites or web applications rather than typical computer systems or servers.
Then, it performs deep packet inspection which means it examines data packets in search of malicious code. Such code may be intended to harm your website or steal information from it. This will try its best to protect your system from any form of cyber attack. This is by denying access to malicious IP addresses and websites, stopping SQL injections, cross-site scripting, etc.
Further, it can also filter out specific keywords that hackers may use to attack your site. Thereby, protecting it from malware and other malicious code/programs. The features provided may vary depending on what you want it to do but generally.
The Importance of Secure Web Gateway
Why, then, should you use SWG today? Well, as we know, we live in a digital world that is constantly evolving. And we are also aware that cyber attacks are increasing day by day.
Moreover, there are many risks when it comes to cyber security. And the most common form of attack is the Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack. This works by flooding your website with false requests thereby, denying access to legitimate users. This may result in heavy monetary losses for your business.
So, how can an SWG help you prevent such attacks? The answer is simple: they can protect your website from any form of a hacker attack. And as mentioned above, they are designed to monitor all traffic going in and out of your system. They are also able to identify and block any harmful code or packets from entering your system.
Conclusion
As you can see, it is very important to secure your website nowadays. And the best way to begin this is by choosing a good web application firewall (WAF) vendor.